Portable play pen for children



Nov. 30; 1937. E, s. SWAZEY 2,100,789

PORTABLE PLAY PEN FOR CHILDREN Filed July 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l v 16 INVENTOR. 5 Edward 5' Swazey Nov. 30, 1937. E. s. SWAZEY 2,100,789

PORTABLE PLAY PEN FOR CHILDREN Filed July 25, 1956 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR.

Edward S. Swaz'ey E BYY: I

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES Parent OFFICE PORTABLE PLAY PEN FOR CHILDREN Application July 25, 1936, Serial No. 92,523

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable play pen for children, and has for its object to provide a simple and practical construction, the parts of which are held firmly together with a minimum play when in operative relation and which can be readily folded or collapsed in such a way as to permit conveniently transporting the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure of this general type comprising two separable sections, each preferably including two sides and a floor portion that can be readily locked in operative relation, while the separable relation of the two aforementioned sections permits dividing the weight of the structure when folded, whereby each section may be easily carried in one hand.

An additional purpose of the improvement is to afiord a structure in which the weight of the floor portions functions to retain the sides locked in operative relationship and to prevent their accidental relative displacement, while lifting of the fioor portions permits disengagement of the two separable sections.

Another object of the invention is to afford an arrangement having a minimum number of parts, permitting a relatively low cost of manufacture, and susceptible of being folded compactly to enable convenient and economical packing and transporting.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portable play pen embodying a preferred form of the invention, and illustrating the parts in operative relation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the separable sections removed from the other section, and showing the floor portion in the lowered position that it assumes when the play pen is assembled;

Fig. 3 is a broken perspective View showing the locking plates on one of the sides, the cooperating separable side being removed therefrom;

Fig. e is a sectional View taken generally on the line i of Fig. 2, showing the interlocking means between the two floor portions;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of one of the separable sections in collapsed or folded relation;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through one of the sides, showing its floor portion folded upwardly, before folding the connected side;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional View showing the relation between the floor portion and the adjacent side with which it cooperates when the parts are assembled;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the parts illustrated in Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the locking plate shown in Fig. 3 and the parts with which it cooperates, and

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the hinge connection between the two sides of one section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views, the structure herein disclosed, which is one exemplary embodiment of the invention, includes two separable sections, each of which includes two sides permanently hinged and foldable one upon the other, and a bottom portion that is hinged to one side and is foldable upwardly when collapsed from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the position shown in Fig. 5, where it is positioned between the sides.

One side of each section consists of top and bottom rails I and 2 respectively, connecting rods 3, and end rails 6, the bottoms of which rest on the ground while the other side of said section consists of top and bottom rails 5 and 6 respectively and connecting rods I. The latter side is permanently hinged to the first mentioned side by means of hinge plates 8 which are permanently attached to the top and bottom rails l and 2, and carry extending portions to which the top and bottom rails 5 and 6 are pivoted, so that the two sides of the section may be folded one upon the other, as illustrated in Fig. 5, when the device is collapsed for transporting.

The two separable sections are adapted to be removably associated with each other, and to this end, the top and bottom rails I and 2 have rigidly connected thereto the locking plates II and I2 which have openings l3 therein, as shown in Fig. 3, while the top and bottom rails 5 and 6 are provided with locking means preferably in the form of pins IL, adapted to engage the openings It in the locking plates of the other section.

As described thus far, the two sections are identical, and when assembled, the locking pins M on the one section are inserted into the openings 83 of the locking plates on the other section. During this part of the assembly, the floor portions, which are to be described presently, are elevated in the position shown in Fig. 6, lying parallel to the sides to which they are attached, so that they do not interfere with the positioning of the sides in their assembled relation, and after the sides are brought together in this fashion, the floor portions are lowered, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Each floor portion, designated at l6, has permanently secured thereto the arms I! which are pivoted to brackets 18 permanently attached to the bottom rail 2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. This arrangement permits the floor portion to be folded or collapsed upwardly between the sides of the section, which can be folded one upon the other with the floor portion in between, as shown in Fig. 5. Each floor portion can be held in its vertical position against the side by a suitable strap l9 secured to the floor portion and adapted to be extended around one of the rods 3 at the side, and then suitably hooked or otherwise fastened to the floor portion around the rail so as to hold the floor portion in its vertical position when the parts are folded.

In order to retain the side carrying the locking pins l4 engaged with the adjacent side carrying the locking plates II, and to prevent relative vertical displacement of these sides when they are in operative relation, the floor portions and removable sides are constructed so as to engage, one with the other, when the floor portions are lowered. This may be accomplished in a variety of ways, and in the embodiment shown, there is employed a plate or arm 2| fixedly attached to the floor portion l6 and extending laterally beyond the same, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8, so that when the floor portion is lowered, the outer end of said arm or plate 2| overlies and abuts the bottom rail 6 of the adjacent removable side. Thus the weight of the floor portions l6, through the arms 2! resting upon the rails 6, holds the removable sides down and prevents relative vertical movement thereof with reference to the locking plates II. This means eifectually prevents separation of the sides while the floor portions are in their lowered position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The floor portions include cross-rails 22 which rest upon the ground or supporting means when lowered, and in order to prevent relative lateral movement of the floor portions when lowered, the construction shown in Fig. 4 is employed. To accomplish this, the center cross-rail 23 is extended beyond the floor portion which carries it, and the other floor portion overlies the extension of the cross-rail 23 and has an opening therein which engages the pin 24 carried by crossrail 23. Thus, when the two floor portions are lowered, as shown in Fig. 4, the pin 24 on the one engages the opening in the other floor portion and thus locks them against relative lateral movement. This serves to prevent any substantial play in the structure as a whole and holds the sides firmly in their proper relationship, the side edges of the floor portions lying against the bottom rails 6 of the sides.

It is desirable to relieve the hinge plates 8 and the locking plates II and I2 from the weight of the sides overlying them, and for this purpose the bottom rails 6 of the sides are provided with suitable blocks 25 adapted to rest on the ground or support and carry the weight of the sides, the removable sides being maintained in locked relation to the locking plates in the manner already described.

The play pen is shown completely assembled.

and in operative relation in Fig. 1, where the floor portions are lowered and the two separable sections are locked together. To disassemble the structure, the two floor portions I6 are elevated and each is secured in vertical position against its side by means of the strap i9 fastened around the adjacent vertical rod of the side. Thereupon, the removal sides are lifted slightly to elevate the locking pins l4 out of the openings l3 in the locking plates, and the two sides of each section can then be folded together with the floor portion in between, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Each section is then in compact form and can beeasily carried in one hand, or readily packed for shipping.

While the invention has been described with reference to a certain structural embodiment, it is not confined to the precise form and arrangement herein set forth, and this application is intended to cover any modifications or departures coming within the purposes of the improvement or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable play pen comprising two sections separable from each other by relative vertical movement, each of said sections including two sides hinged together and foldable one upon the other, floor portions foldably hinged to'one side of each section, each floor portion and one side of the section separable therefrom including means on one engageble with the other and 00- operating when the floor portions are lowered to hold the sections against relative vertical movement when in operative position.

2. A portable play pen comprising a plurality of sides hinged together and foldable one upon the other, a floor portion foldably hinged to one of said sides, a separate side removably engageable with one of the aforementioned sides by a relative vertical movement, said removable side and floor portion including means on one engageable with the other and cooperating when the floor portion is lowered to retain the removable side in operative relation against vertical movement;

3. A portable play pen comprising two sections separable from each other by a relative vertical movement, each of said sections including two sides hinged together and foldable one upon the other, a floor portion hinged to one of said sides and foldable between the said two sides of a section, said floor portions and one side of each separable section including means on one engageable with the other when in operative relation to prevent relative vertical movement and separation of the sections.

4. A portable play pen comprising a side having horizontally arranged locking plates at the top and bottom thereof provided with vertical openings, a floor portion foldably hinged to said side, a second side removably attachable to said first mentioned side and having locking means at the top and bottom engageable with the openings in said locking plates by movement in a vertical plane, said floor portion and said second side including means on one engageable with the other and cooperating, when the floor portion is lowered, to prevent relative vertical movement of the second side.

5. A portable play pen comprising two sections separable from each other by a relative vertical movement and each including two sides hinged together and foldable one upon the. other, separable floor portions foldably hinged to one side of each section, horizontally disposed locking plates secured to the last mentioned side at the top and bottom thereof and having vertical openings therein and the adjacent side having locking means at the top and bottom thereof engageable with said openings in said locking plates by movement in a vertical plane, said floor portions and adjacent removable sides including means on one engageable with the other and cooperating when the floor portion is lowered to prevent relative vertical movement of the sides.

6. A portable play pen comprising two sections separable from each other by a relative vertical movement and each including two sides hinged together and foldable one upon the other, separable floor portions foldably hinged to one side of each section, horizontally disposed locking plates secured to the last mentioned side at the top and bottom thereof and having vertical openings therein and the adjacent side having locking means at the top and bottom thereof engageable with said openings in said locking plates by movement in a vertical plane, said floor portions and adjacent removable sides including means on one engageable with the other and cooperating when the floor portion is lowered to prevent relative vertical movement of the sides, and interlocking means carried by the floor portions and cooperating when the latter are lowered to prevent relative lateral movement of said floor portions.

'7. A portable play pen comprising two sections separable from each other by relative vertical movement, each of said sections including two sides hinged together and foldable one upon the other, floor portions foldably hinged to one side of each section, each floor portion and one side of the section separable therefrom including means on one engageable with the other and cooperating when the floor portion is lowered to engage said side and hold the sections against relative vertical movement when in operative relation, and interlocking means carried by the floor portions and acting to prevent relative horizontal movement of the floor portions when the latter are in operative position.

EDWARD S. SWAZEY. 

